Haryana: Upper caste men beat up Dalit groom over ‘ghurchar

A cop guarding the marriage function after the incident.(HT Photo)

A Dalit groom was on Tuesday pushed down from the horse during ‘ghurchari’ and his family members in the ‘baraat’ (marriage procession) were allegedly beaten up by a dozen upper caste men at Sanjarwas village in Charkhi Dadri district.The incident took place late on Tuesday night when groom Sanjay and his family had come to the village for his marriage with village resident Suman. However, when the ‘baraat’ was coming to Suman’s residence, a dozen men belonging to the Rajput community stopped it and pushed Sanjay down from the horse, saying Dalits were not allowed to perform this ritual.

The incident led to a heated argument between the two sides, after which the upper caste men roughed up the groom and some of his family members. Three of bride’s family members —Satender, Anil and Harpal — who tried to save the ‘baraatis’ were brutally beaten up and had to be shifted to a hospital.

Bond Kalan police station incharge said Sanjay suffered minor injuries but the marriage ceremony was accomplished. “We made sure the marriage ceremony was performed peacefully by providing security till the function ended.”He added, “We have lodged a case under relevant sections of the IPC and SC/ST (prevention of atrocities) Act. One person has been arrested while a hunt to nab the other miscreants was on,” he said.

Dalit grooms are often beaten up for riding horses. Last year, a Dalit groom in Madhya Pradesh rode to his pre-wedding ceremony under heavy police protection after upper caste men allegedly warned him against mounting a horse. Another Dalit groom in Madhya Pradesh had to wear a helmet while riding a horse as upper caste people in the village threw stones at him.

Comment (1)

The atrocities on dalits are becoming common. The upper castes are beating dalits on some pretext or the other. The following of rituals of upper castes has become latest cause of brutality. These upper caste people should be boked for causing physical injury